The Sacred Way of Eastern Qing Tombs 清東陵 神道

The Sacred Way is known as the road to heaven as it would lead the emperors back to heaven after death. Officials and animals line both sides of the way. There are two pairs each of Minister of Merit, Civilian Officer and Military Officer. There are also two pairs of  horse, qilin, elephant, camel, xiezhi and lion. One pair standing and another kneeling. We started from the Dragon Phoenix Gate in the north and walked south towards the wangzhu columns.

We took the tram back to the Sacred Way

Dragon Phoenix Gate

The Sacred Way

Minister of Merit

Civilian Officer

Civilian Officer

Military Officer

Standing horse

Kneeling horse

Standing qilin 麒麟

Kneeling qilin

Standing elephant

Kneeling elephant

Standing camel

Kneeling camel

Standing xiezhi 獬豸

Kneeling xiezhi

Standing lion 石獅

Kneeling lion

Two wangzhu columns mark the beginning of the Sacred Way

The Sacred Way is 870 m long

Marble Archway (paifang)

marks the beginning of the mausoleum

Tomb of Xiang Fei 香妃

Xiang Fei was also known as Rong Fei. She was an Uighur from Kashgar. She entered the palace at the age of 27 and and died at 55 in 1788. She lived in the Forbidden City for 28 years,

Steps into the tomb

Xiang Fei's coffin

Imperial Concubines' Tomb of Yuling 裕陵妃园寝

This is the burial site for the concubines of Emperor Qianlong. Construction of the site began in 1745. There are 36 concubines buried here. Only the Tomb of Xiangfei is opened to the public.

The roof here have green tiles instead of yellow

Silk Offering Furnace

Green colour for the concubines and yellow colour for the emperors and empresses 

Xiangfei

Xiangfei on tour with Empror Qianlong

Xiangfei in a western dress

Tomb of Imperial Concubine Chunhui

She was the first wife of Qianlong when he was a prince

Putuo Yu Ding Dong Ling 菩陀峪定東陵 4

We crossed the bridge which lead us to the top of Minglou.

The mound of Empress Dowager Cixi's tomb

The stele on the tower

We could walk around the mound

Going back down